Drafting instrument



July 3, 1945. G. s. `DoLGoRUKov 2,379,791

DRAFTING I INSTRUMENT Filed April 9,' 1943 Ahas been developed Patented 4July 3, 1945 ,UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFTING INSTRUMENT Gregorypolgorukov, Detroit, Mich. l Applicationprl 9,1943, serialNo. 482,432

l sentiers; (cia3-174) This invention` relates to drafting instruments and more particularly to an improvediettering guide. l

It is well appreciated in the art that a substantial part of the total time of makingl a` drawing, particularlyyan engineering or working drawing, such as those prepared in large numbers in engineering departments of manufacturing concerns, is'consumed by the taskof making necessary notes on such drawings." It is required that :such notes be `done in a certainstandard style of lettering, be neatly made and arranged.` Making such notes is tedious workrequiring much ,land neatarrangement of notes, guide `lines `are usually drawn onthe paper to provide `lirnit lines for the tops andlbottoms of letteringcharacters. Av considerable number ofl instruments to` facilitate` drawing of such guidelines.

Whatever may be the instrumentor themethod employed in drawing the guide lines, a large' amount of time is consumed inl drawing such lines. Moreover, after the notes have beenl lettered in,` it is customary to erase as much of `the guide lines as ispractical in order to improve the` appearance of the drawing. However, since erasing of the guidelines between the letters of In view of the above many attemptshave been fact, limitedto only one size, namely, the size in made to provide means whereby lettering Von drawings could be done without theneoessity of `drawing guide lines. Many draftsmen letter notes closely in order not tooverdraw the lines, a severe eyestrain is imposed on the draftsman. Moreover, `lettering charactersso produced.` are, in

which thepaper is graduated, `since doubling or tripling the size provided on the cross sectional paper does not produce the different proportional sizes of the characters required in a note; i. e., proper sizesof figures, capitals, fractions,4 and the like, for a `certain nominal sizeof lineletters.

To avoid the above difficulty lettering guides orstencils of the individual letter type arefoften used,` which stencils give the outline` of'each individual character, line `letters and cap'talsas well `as each ligure for a definite sizeof line letters. There are alsolettering devices .0f `the same individual lettertyl0e`in which Va twostylus writing instrument is used, one stylus following grooves in Atheshape of each individual letter onay templet,"while theV other stylus reproduces the corresponding outline on the drawing.` All"\individual letter guides, while` very advantageous in use for large'letters such as are used on title blocks or small signs and posters, particularly for ink work, arepractically prohibitive in required time for regular engineering `,let-

tering where itis necessary towrite in `pencil long notes in small letters, lsl to lg, in height. Attempts have been made to letter through a narrow slot cut in some existing drafting instrument, such as a triangle. Such lettering possessesI many advantages and` solves many difficulties connected with the use of guide lines as Well as with theA `use of ,individual letter guides and found in thegdiiculties connected with their use in the average run of engineering lettering where a word may be followedby a 4fraction extending higher and'lower than the tops andthe bottoms of line letters, or a gurewhich is usually higher than line letters; again, some words may begin withcapitals. Moreover, several sizes of letters areusuallynecessary for a drawing in order to give some portions of notes more prominence or to provide more distinctive titles and title blocks.

Using the slot only for some small portions of `notes is very tiresome and annoying. On the other hand, providing a number of slots of different widths along various sides ofa drafting instrument such as a triangle, or one slot above the other in a ruler or similar instrument, re-

quires turning the device with every changein Ythe height of the letters, or moving itinsuch a way as to require newisetting of the slot against the line `of letters. Such operations make lettering through these slots rather diiicult.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved drafting instrument with vide an improved drafting instrument for useparticularly, but notl exclusively, in engineering drafting, whereby a great saving ofv both time and money inthe preparation of engineeringy drawings may be effected. s

A still further object of the invention is` to provide an improved lettering instrument, the

l use of which makes lettering much simpler and easier, whereby the time for training draftsmen is considerably shortened, and the drafting work is made more pleasant.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a lettering guide or device for lettering through a slot `giving uniform andpredetermined height of letters, and which also enables rapid alternate lettering in characters of various heights, such as when beginning some words with capitals, writing figures andl fractions immediately after or before line letters, and.` the like.

A still Afurther object of the present invention is't'o provide an improved lettering vdevice of the `character' specified in the preceding paragraph the slots enabling. a more convenient writing of l which permits lettering aline of mixed characters of Various heights withoutturning the device or without resetting it by moving transversely of -the letter line. y

A still further object of the present invention is tok provide an improved lettering guidejwhich enables neat and speedy lettering of relatively long 4noteson engineering drawings, the separate lines of said notes containing lettering characters of various heights, such as line letters. capitals, fractions, andthe like, each of the characters being of a predetermined height and arranged `in a predetermined axial or transverserelationship-to other characters of the same line. -r

A still further object of: the present invention Vis to provide an improved lettering guide` of the character specedin the preceding paragraph,

4which enables the production of neat and` relatively long lines of lettering characters of predevtermined varyingv but veven heights, the same being done without imposing anl undue strain on v theY draftsmans eyes, which as is appreciated in -the art, is a 4very serious problem in the art due `to thenecessity of straining ones eyes letter- `ing` `between twoy faintly drawn guide lines or watching lines on the vcross sectional paper through drafting paper or clothv of low'transparency.

It is an added object of thel present invention to providea structure ofthe foregoing. character,

`which is simple `in construction, dependable in operation,.and relatively inexpensive to manu- Fig. 1 is a view illustrating my improved lettering guide arranged in an operative position on a drawing against the guiding edge of a T-square. Fig. 2 is a view showing the effective portion of the lettering guide on an enlarged scale.

Fig.v 3 is a sectional view taken in the direction of the arrows on the section plane passing through 'the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. y

Fig. 4 is a view showing theoutline of the slots, the Width of` the slots being somewhat exaggerated for the sake of clarity, saidview illustrating the use of the guide for writing figures, fractions and inch signs.

Fig. 5 is a View similar in part to Fig. 4 and illustrating the use of the guide for lettering title l block letters.

Fig. 6 is a view similar in part to Figs. 4 and 5 and illustrating the use of the guide for Writing in lower case letters. I

Fig. '7 is a view showing a modified outline of title block letters in vertical stroke.

Before explaining in detail'the present invention it is to be understood .thatthe invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement ofv parts illustrated` `in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable" of other embodiments and of, being practiced or-carried out in various'ways. Also-v it is to be understood the phraseology of' terminology employed herein isfor the purpose' of description l and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed hereinbeyondi therequirements ofthe prior art. f

It should be noted, that the term line letter" as herein used designatesa small. letter intended` to follow a capital ofa given size, such as the l'et'- ters, o, m, p, a, n, and y following capital C` in Fig. 4. `Use of the term lowercase letter inthe same sense'has been avoided. In the art theterm lower case letters designates smaller letters which are not only smaller in size but in most cases have different outlines than their respective capitals. (See Fig. 6.) This'term, properin use in the art of printing, may be misleadingherein, since in the artl of engineering drafting lower case letters are nowadays very seldom used and are, with the exception ofrare instances, substituted by smaller letters having the same outline asther respective capitals (see Fig. 4).

Referring `to the drawingf the lettering guide illustrated therein comprises a body I 0, made preferably in theform of a flat rectangular strip of substantially transparent material, suchfa's cellulose nitrate or cellulose acetate, commercially known as Celluloid said body being pro"- vided with a straight guiding ledge II. Parallel vto said edge H there is provided a plurality, Vin

the present instance three, of'slots- I2, Hand' I5. The right-hand end of the wide'slot I2 merges into the left-hand end of the intermediate slot I4, while the right-hand end of the intermediate slot I4 merges into the left-hand end of thenarrow slot I5. By virtue of* such a construction there is provided, in effect, on the body I Ilia single combination slot comprising the above mentioned mutually merging or communicating slot portions I2, I4 and I5 which extend parallel to the' guiding edge II.v

The slots I2, I4 and I5 have their respective widths and axialarrangements selected in apredetermined relationship to each other in order to provide for lettering of al1 charactersv ofat least one font of. lettering characters, which is to say one complete assortmentof'characters appreciably shifting the guide.

off one style and mutually related sizes, which onefmayneed' for use* in notes on engineering drawings or `charts for `which lettering guides arewemployed".` For "general industrial purposes i the 'arrangement ofslots herein illustrated and described has been foundto 'bevery eicient. I

prefer to make the narrow slot of Vsuch a width t as to produce line letters 1A; inch' high,although slightly smaller or larger line letters may bere- 'quired for special purposes. f `It shouldbe noted that the actual widtngof "aislot has to 'be'siightl'y (approximately 14,4 inch) `larger than the desired height of` the letter characters to` be lettered therethroughinorder to allow for the clearance able, as faras itswidth is concerned, for lettering therethrough .capitals and igures` forV the whole numbersywhile the lwide slot may be used for lettering fractions. l

Slots arearranlged in a predetermined axial `relation to eachother in order to eiect proper axial positioning of the lettering characters of a note line. Againg using `the narrow slot asthe basic one facilitatesf'the problem of properly laying out slots in the guide. The intermediateslot "I`4 is -so arrangedfth'at .its loweredgellla is dis# posed'along the lineof the lower edge. I 5a of made sufficiently 'small in order t not to` separate the slots unnecessarily; I prefer to make this radius approximately one half of the Width of comes "possible toA write acapital letter, through `the right-hand end of the intermediate `slot I4 and to follow it with a line letter written through the left-hand 'end of the narrow slot I5 without (See Fig. 4.) The wide slot I2, which inthe present embodiment' of the invention is arranged to the right `oifthe intermediate slot I 4, is sodisposed as to have its"cent`er line substantially along the line drawn or struck against the upper edge I 5b of the narrow slot I5 as aguiding edge. By virtue of Such a construction the upper and the lower edges I2`a" and'I2b thereofextend, respectively, above the upper and lower edges `of the slots I4 and I5. This makes the slot I2 suitable for writing therethrough fractions which are thus placed yin a proper axial relationship to the whole numbers written through the intermediate slot I5. (See Fig. 4.) In addition; when the wide slot is used for lettering 'therethrough large letters, such as used in title blocks, the center bars of the letters y F, E,\G, H, and-dashes in general may also be written as short lines struck against I5b as a guiding edge (see Fig. 5), while Afor writing the cross barof the letter A the lower edge I5a of the samer slot I5 `may be used. This eliminates `much ofjth'e freeh'andworkin lettering. Also, f dimension linesmay be drawn against the edge I 5b in the same operation as in drawing the fraction signs, whileA witness lines may be drawn against the vertical edges or ends of the body IIJ. Thus, a number of dimension lines and. dimensions may be placed on the drawing without shifting the guide transversely. i

In operation, the guide is placed against a T-square or a triangle or` any `other device hav ing a guiding edge, and is brought together with such deviceinto `a position where `the slot I5 is properly located to letterthe line of line `letters of the desired note.

ends ofnote lines, Inclined lines 2|` drawn at the angle of 36W/@degrees tothe slots provide reference lines to"insure proper` inclination of letters if inclined vstroke is used.` It shouldV be` noted, however, that the provision of inclined lines does not prevent use `oi" the `devicefor vertical stroke lettering, in which casethe lettering is done withV reference to thevertical lines `and disregarding the inclined lines. (See Fig. 4.)

The left-hand end of the wide slot I2 may be used for partly forming letters such as F, E,

. I, H, and the like, done with the'use ofinclined the narrow "slot `I`5,"the` upperedgeldb of the i 'slot I lbeing thus caused to extend above the slot `I5. By virtue of such `a construction it be- 145 stroke. If, however, it is desired tohave the same advantage for the vertical stroke lettering,

the lefthand `end of thehslot I2 is finished `ver-` tically as shown in Fig. '7. It' will be noted, how-` ever, that in this case` the lettering guidecan still be `used just as conveniently for inclined,

with a capital, the same` is written through the rghtehand endv `oi the intermediate slot I4, and the next line letter is written through the `lefthand endof the narrowslot I5,v as mentioned;`

(See Fig. 4.) `Should it becomenecessary to write a ligure, the guide is shifted to the right to bring the intermediate slot I4 :to the place where the ligure or `iigures areto be written. `Shouldit become necessary to write afraction, thefraction sign is rst written or drawn against the upper edge I 5b of the slot I5; thereupon the guide is shifted to bring the wide slot `'I2 over the fraction sign, andthe numeratorl andthe denominator are Written against the edlges `I2b and 12a respectively.` Thus a fraction t of "a proper height` disposed in a` proper" axial arrangement to the line letters or `the' gure is prosuch as l,\h, d, and thelike are written entirely `or finished through 1the intermediate slot I4,

while' the wide slot I2 is similarly used for the (See Fig. 6.) Y A 'i It is important to note that the lengths of -all slots, and particularly of the'narrowslot I5, are such that a plurality of lettering'characters can be written withoutfshifting thedevice. lI prefer to make the narrow Aslot approximately three inches long, whichv permits writing Several words composed of line `letters without shifting the device. Thus, in my `improved lettering guide, the lettering operation "continues without `shifting the guideuntil one cmes to theend of the slot `or theend of the line( in a note, er until the next lettering characteris" 'of a different width than the one previously written. This `constitutes `a great advantage over the in-V dividual letter guidesl which,rnnstbeshhted` at AVeach lettering character.` In `average engineering lettering, where letters arejsniallfandspeed 1s a primary consideration, as `is tl'1`e"case in 7`51pencil lettering, such shifting `makesdrawing every `lettering character againstfthe edges of Vertical lines 20 are. used for properly aligning the beginnings` andthe y [four distances betweeny the ingthe .entire drawing,I either in vertical -or inclined stroke, rwhile the `use lof' individual letter gudes'requires a ,special guide :for each size of letters','and therefore afsetof severalgu'ldes must .be lavailable in order 'to complete a drawing, the entire set being' limited to either vertical or `inclined stroke letters.

yTwo distance-measuring lines 22, running parallel to allof` theslots and located preferably .above fthem, are provided. By placing one of .said lines vlagainst 'thetop or the bottom of a 1;

previously: written line, 'the predetermined spacingfor lthe `next lower .line is thus obtained.

aegon-91 least two longitudinallyadjaeent slots having edges extending parallel to said guiding edge, Ithe lowerfedgesof said-slots extendingfalongthe lsame vlrvproviding two `of `the lines l22, the choice of lines is made available. 'lheffbody Hlisvchamered vat its upper-surface .armmdtall othe slots are shown `at 23,- in order to facilitate lettering andv .to prevent too muchclearance between the writing point and the edge'o'f thesloton the surface of the paper, -or in `other words, ito; prevent i the lettering characters from--corningout ysmaller than desired i with a 7givenywidtlflof slot., f

On thev bottom surface, opposite the chamier 23 the .body yIl] is provided with a small' chamfer 'change ythe .general concept in accordance fwith i which, my limproved lettering guide Vis constructed, since such slots are ,laid out in accordance with the. procedure l outlined above inv order `.toprovide.the requiredrespective widths and .a-Xial 4arrangement of the .lettering characters.

It is preferable tov provide all reference lines on*` the lower surface of the device, .in -orderto avoid confusing shadows or ,distortionI of view if material of convenient thickness is used, and the linesare provided on the uppersurface of the.device.- 1 I y ",I'here is'thus .provided asimple and `inexpensive lettering guide with the aid of whichletteringon engineering drawings, which usually `include liner letters, capitalangures, fractions, as well as large size letters for title blocks and the like, may be done `with great rapidity and convenience and with greatly reduced eyestrain as well as muscular and nervous fatigue. Thus one of the important industrial operations, which cont surnes a great portion of the total workingtime of highly skilled help, is made more eicient, and lgreat savings of time and money and a greaterproductiveness of .engineering designing .work is achieved. .I g

1. In alei ;te`1"ing`. guide,` a body having a straight 'guidingedge `said .bodybeing provided with at straight line, .oneof -said-slots being "narrower and having -lengthsufcient to ,provide-:for let'- tering therethrough Yofmore than one character without shifting the-device.v l a f 2.- yIn a let-tering guide, yalbodyhaving a lstraight guiding edge, `saidfloody being-.provided Withfat least` two longitudinally 'merging vslots having edgesgextending Vparallelto said guiding edge, the lower edges of said. slots extendingvalong Iithesame straight linefvthe widths of said slots being iselected `to provide ior.-lettering therethrough of capitals and line letters,A respectivelmthe. lengths of each of said slots being suicientito prov-ide `forlettering therethrough of more than onecharacten; i* l In f a. lettering guide, ra ybodyfhaving aistraight guiding-edge `for being `shifted thereon, Afsaidfbody being provided with'two longitudinally `merging slots having "edges, extending parallel tosaidguiding edge, the lower. edges of said slotsextending alongthe same .straight line, the widths lof-said slots being selected to provide for lettering therethrough of f capitals and ,line letters, respectively, the-lengths of each of -saidslots being `sulicient to provide for lettering therethrough of `more than one character, and .a .line .provided onsaid body vabove said slots, and lextending parallel -to their common loweredge.

4. In a letteringguide,` aibodyhaving; a guidingi edge, .said ,body being provided with .at `least three longitudinally adjacent slots parallel to said edge, two of said .slots having a continuous lower edge` and :their respective widths selectedto vprovide for Vlettering.therethrouglfi capitals and line lettersfor snol-1 .capitals,4 the upper and theA lower edges .of the third slot being disposed respectively abovev the-.tops a.ndbelow `the fbottornsfof said h twoyslots,substantially in a relationship to provide. for letteringl throughsaid slot of fractions for, thev line :of characters .lettered throughi said v,two'slots v lnalettering guide, abody havingaguding-edge, Asaid body being provided` with at least three longitudinally adjacent slots ,parallel to said n ,said third slot being disposed. approximately along `the Aline which is draw-n vagailitt the upper edge -of'f-the .A slot `for writingy line. letters.,

h 6. `A lettering guide comprising ar. body having a straight guiding edgeysaidbodybeing provided wit/hat least threelongitudinally adjacent slot portions merging `into each other and `extending parallel to said edge in a predetermined axial relationship to each other `to formacombination slot, ,the rst slot portion having width toenable lettering therethrough lineletters of agpred'etermined height; the second slotportion having its lower edgel extending along the same straight line with the lower edge of saidrst slotportion and its upper edge extend-ing.abovey the upper edge of. saidrstl slot portionto a distanca'enabling lettering through said secondfslot, yportion vcapitals for .theline characters lettered through said'. first slot portion; f. and the" third slot'portiou having its width and `axial relationship to said rst and second slotportions selected to provide for lettering through said third slot portion below the top and the bottom edges of the nar-4 rower slot to provide for lettering through said Wider slot of fractions corresponding in size to2 the size of lettering characters to e be lettered through said narrow slot, said narrow slot having length suiiicient to letter therethrough a plurality of characters without shifting the guide.

8. In a lettering guide, a body having a straight edge, said body being provided With a plurality of longitudinally adjacent lettering slots of different Widths arranged parallel to said straight edge, at least one ofsaid slots having length sufcient to letter therethrough a plurality of lettering characters without shifting the guide, the respective widths and the axial relationship ofV said slots having the same relationship as the heights and-the axial positioning of lettering characters of at least one predetermined font thereof. l

9. In a lettering guide, a body having a straight edge, said body being provided with a combination slot extending along said straight edge and having its longitudinal edges parallel thereto, said combination slot being composed of a plurality of longitudinally adjacent slot portions merging into one another at their adjacent ends, at least one of said' slot portions having length sufficient to letter therethrough a plurality of'lettering characters without shifting the guide, said slot portions having different but mutually correlated widths and a correlated axial arrangement corresponding to those of lettering characters of atf least one predetermined font thereof.

i `GRJEIGlORY S. DOLGORUKOV. 

